Switch or receptacle box



I w. J. NEWTON. SWITCH 0R RECEPTACLE BOX.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23.1916.

Patented July 6, 1920.

Hrs-4 INVENTOR Wm M W ANTON/Eye UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J'. NEWTON, 0F LYNBROOK, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, T0 JOHN G. LIVINGSTON, OF WOODMERE, LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK.

SWITCH OR RECEPTACLE BOX.

' I Specification of Letters Patent. 7

Patented July 6, 1920.

Application filed November 2a, 1916. Serial No. 132,955.

Nassau, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch or Receptacle Boxes, of which the following is a description.

My invention relates broadly to boxes or containers for electric switches, base receptacles and the like, and has particular reference to means for securing such boxes in position.

, In my application, Serial No. 83086, filed March 9, 1916, I have shown a switch or receptacle box, with means for adjusting the same in the outlet box or other support, so as to bring the switch box in proper relation to the plaster line or other finished surface of the wall Within which it is placed: In my said application, the means for making this adjustment comprise a pair of adjustable lugs, which may be moved with respect to the switch box, by the rotation of adjusting screws. These lugs are guided by channels formed in the ends of the switch box, in such a manner that angular movement of the switch box,with respect to the outlet box, is prevented.

The invention described in this application, provides means'whereby similarly adjustable lugs may be more effectively prevented from angular movement, with respect to the switch box, and may be securely locked in position after the switch box has been adjusted in thedesired place. I also providea lug and cooperating mechanism of improved construction, so that the switch box may be more rigidly fixed in the outlet box, and all movement thereof prevented, the rigidity of the lug being due in part to its support at a plurality of points, separated from one another upon its supporting and actuating means.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional view showing a switch box attached to an outlet 'box, but located below. the plaster line.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view, showing the switch box adjustedto the plasterline, and provided with a face plate and its attaching Fig. 3 is a front view of the switch box in place.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view of one of the lugs.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the switch boxl, which may be of porce-- lain or molded insulation, has channels 2-2, formed at its ends. These channels may be of any suitable form. Located at the base of the channel, and attached to the switch box 1, are guide members 3-3, having outwardly projecting ears 4-4. Held between the ears, so as to prevent longitudinal movement thereof, are the adjusting screws 55.

Lugs 6-6 are used to attach the switch box to the outlet box 7 or other support.

Lugs 6, are provided at their outer ends, with apertures 8, through which screws 9 pass, to attach the lug to the outlet box 7. The aperture 8 may be slightly enlarged so as to permit a slight movement of the switch.

The inner ends of the lugs are bent in a substantially U shaped form; the base of the U being a flat portion 10, and the edges of the inner ends of the lugs being preferably formed to conform to the contour of the channel 2 formed in switch box 1. Both legs of the U forming the inner end of the lug 6 are perforated. As shown in Fig. 4, the upper leg has an aperture 11", which is just large enough to clear the threads of the adjusting screw 5, and the lower leg has an aperture 12, which is threaded to engage the threads of adjusting screw 5, in order that the lug may be operated thereon.

It is evident that by rotating adjusting screw 5, the lug 6 will be moved longitudinally of the channel in the switch box 1, while at the same time the lugs are prevented from rotating by the engagement of their inner ends, with the sides of the channel 2, and particularly by the engagement of the flat portion 10 of the inner end of the lug,

The particular means I illustrate, are those described in an application filed by Morris Goldberg and myself, July 13th, 1916, Serial No. 108,999, and comprise anupstanding collar 15 attached to bridge plate 13, which is adapted to carry the switch operating mechanism and a nut 16, which encircles collar 15. In this arrangement, the face-plate 14 is provided with an aperture, slightly larger than collar 15, and is slipped over collar 15; nut 16 is then screwed down into place, the face-plate having first been adjusted to proper angular position. It will be understood that any suitable mechanism for attaching the faceplate. may be used, provided the face-plate bears against the plaster and is attached to the cover or bridge-plate.

' In the operation of my improved switch .orreceptacle box, the lugs 6 are first attached to the outlet box 7; the adjusting screws 5 are then turned to adjust the switch box to such a position that the cover or bridge-plate 13 is very slightly below the plaster line. The face-plate 14 is then applied, and nut 16 is screwed home. The efl'ect of turning up nut 16, is to cause a slight outward movement of the switch as a whole, and the outer ends of lug 6 being attached to the outlet box 7 this movement results in a slight bending of the lug, which produces a bending of the fiat portion 10, thus bringing it into more intimate contact with the flat guide member 3, and in causing the unthreaded aperture 11 to engage and clamp the adjustin screw 5. The switch box is thus effective y locked in place, and cannot be moved without first relieving the tension upon the lug, produced by the tightening of nut 6.

It will be understood that my invention is by no means confined to switchboxes, and that it is equally applicable to receptacle boxes, and similar apparatus, and that when, in this specification, I have used terms -switch, switch boxes or the like, I intend to thereby include all such similar structures.

While I have only described one modification of my invention, it will be evident to those skilled in the .art, that many changes may be made without departing from the spirit ofmy invention, and I thereforedo not intend to confine myself to the particular apparatus shown and described.

What I claim is: I

1. In a device of the kind described, 2. lug having a flat apertured end, and a U shaped apertured end, said flat end extending substantially parallel to the legs of the U.

2. An adjustable switch, comprising a box portion, a metallic guidemember attached thereto, and having outwardly projecting ears and an adjusting screw held between said ears.

3. An adjustable switch, comprisin a bdx member, a guide member attached 1; ereto,

and'having outwardly projecting ears, an adjusting screw held between said ears, and a threaded lug engaging said adjusting screw, and adapted to be moved by the rotation thereof.

4. An adjustable switch, comprising a box member, a metallic guide member attached thereto and having outwardly projecting ears, an adjusting screw held between said ears against longitudinal movement, and an apertured lug adapted to bear against the guiding member, said lug being threaded to engage the adjusting screw and be moved by the rotation thereof.

5. An adjustable switch, comprising a box member, a metallic guide member attached thereto, an adjusting screw held against longitudinal movement, and a lug adapted to be moved by said screw and having a fiat portion adapted to contact with the guide member.

6. An adjustable switch, comprising a box member, a guide thereon, a lug having a fiat portion adapted to contact with said guide, means for moving the lug along the guide, and means for causing the box member to move .to cause the flat portion. of the lug to bend, to lock the lug in position.

7 An adjustable switch, comprising a box member, a guide member having outwardly projecting ears attached thereto, an adjusting screw held between said ears, and a lug having a plurality of apertures, through one of which the screw passes, and another ofwhich is in threaded engagement therewith.

8. An adjustable switch, comprising a box portion/an adjusting screw held thereon against longitudinal movement and a lug having a plurality of apertures, through one of which the adjusting screw passes and another of which is in threaded engagement therewith.

9. An adjustable switch, comprising a box portion, a guide member attached thereto,

' and having outwardly projecting ears, an

adjusting screw held between said ears, and a lug having a flat portion adapted to contact with said guide member, and a plurality of apertures, one of which is in threaded engagement with the screw.

10. An adjustable switch, comprisin a box portion, a flat metallic guide mem er attached thereto, and having outwardly projecting ears, an adjusting screw held against longitudinal movement between said ears, a lug having a plurality of apertures, one

of which is in threaded engagement with the screw and through another of which the screw passes and a flat portion adapted to contact with the guide member, and means for moving the switch box to cause the flat portion of the lug to be bent to lock the lug in position.

11. An adjustable switch, comprising a box portion, a fiat metallic guide member attached thereto and having outwardly projecting ears, an adjusting screw held against longitudinal movement between said ears, a lug having a plurality of apertures, one of which is in threaded engagement with the screw, and through another of which the screw passes, and a flat portion adapted to contact with the guide member, a threaded member attached to the box member, an apertured face-plate throu h which the threaded member projects, and a nut engaging the threaded member and adapted to be screwed against the face-plate.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification this 22nd day of November, 1916.

- NVILLIAM J. NEWTON. 

